Black Movie Month

[coolrob1955]

To get a jump on African Americans in movies month. Here's a treat to put you in the mood. It does'nt get cooler than this.

 

http://poy.no/files/vintage/clips/jammin.asf

 

What are your favorites ?

 

Regards

[stryder989]

Does it get any better than 1997's comedy classic "Booty Call"?

[coolrob1955]

You are neither funny nor smart. A double whammy.

 

You have my pity

[stargzn]

I'd never heard of 'Jammin' The Blues' before, until I saw this short follow 'St Louis Blues', a week or so ago. I was thrilled. I am always happy to see something before or after a movie, which stays in the same 'groove', but then, when I saw the credits at the beginning, my teeth dropped. A friend of mine was very close friends with Barney Kessel, and he was hit hard by his death, a couple of years ago. (I wasn't aware of a musician by this name before I met my friend). When I saw Barney's name roll across the screen, I did a double flip (okay...not really, but in my mind, I did). I immediately emailed my friend, and he was ecstatic. He's never seen the piece, and he lives in England, so would likely never see it played anywhere. Lucky for me -- and he -- I had the burner going. : )

 

I do like the promos for the Race theme. They really jar your attention, as well they should!

 

What is a favorite? Hmmmm. I was really taken with the above-mentioned St Louis Blues. That was a first for me.

Raisin In The Sun is powerful. I wish TCM could play this one.

Sergeant Rutledge - Though only the main character is African American, this is one great flick.

Cabin In The Sky - fantasy sorta weird fun and great singing

To Kill A Mockingbird - again, only one main black character, but the whole theme of the movie was hatred, racism and ignorance. Top of my list.

[bollywood101]

Faves of mine:

 

Sounder, with the music of Taj Mahal, of course.

 

Charles Burnett's To Sleep with Anger.

 

Spike Lee's Get On the Bus.

 

In a lighter vein, Damon Wayans' I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka!.

 

And of course the three films by Spencer Williams from the 40s, Go Down, Death, The Blood of Jesus, and Juke Joint. These are my favorites of the black independent films and I'm still resentful that Oscar month has usurped February, which used to have a regular Black History Month feature in which those films usually aired. Compared to the usual cheaply-shot on decrepit soundstages black indie picture, they are a breath of fresh air, and they remind me in so many ways of the miracle plays that were the precursor of Elizabethan drama. I don't think any of them are skedded in the upcoming black films program, but I wish they could play on TCM at least one more time, as I can't find the tape dubs I made previously. (Too many tapes, too many DVDs.)

[wmruffin]

Booty Call (1997) ? I see you know very little about BLACKS in the movies. I'm BLACK myself so I can say this without hesitation.

 

What about some of the great films stars of yesterday? Never mind the fact that (for the most part) they were given stereotypical rolls. Life's a ****, what can I say? The fact still remains that these people were very talented and deserve their due.

 

Now if you'd like to move of to more modern times, what happened to actors like Sidney Poitier for instance in your equation? What happened to movies like The Color Purple (1985), Malcolm X (1992) (A Spike Lee Joint)?

 

Learn your film history first, then we can talk shop. Booty Call? A Classic? That must be some good weed your somkin'.

 

Bill

[stryder989]

I take it you've never actually seen Booty Call so don't be so smug. It stars one of today's great black actors, Best Actor Oscar winner Jamie Foxx.

[wmruffin]

Jamie Foxx received the Oscar (and rightfully so) for a very powerful roll and performance in Ray (2004).

 

So what do these two films have in common other the Jamie Foxx? I don't get it. Or are you saying Oscar winners never star in meaningless rolls? Which at the time Jamie Foxx was not.

 

You were probably one of those people I saw on TV shouting: "Save Stan 'Tookie' Williams."

 

Can I get an Amen?

 

Bill

[stryder989]

ahh whatever. you're obviously just a bigot that believes only black people know anything about black movies.

[hollbergsmith]

It should be an interesting month, both on screen and in these forums. I'm expecting a lot of self-examination as the conversations go off in all sorts of directions.

[wmruffin]

I'm not mad at you. Just having a little fun. No more. No less.

 

Bill

[stargzn]

Good Lord, we're doomed.

[coolrob1955]

Hang in there Bill, don't try to argue with children and idiots.

 

Making the connection that 'Booty Call' is somehow a classic because Jamie Fox was in it is rediculous. We need to start another thread - 'Dog movies featuring talented actors'

 

I love classic movies, but we all have to admit that Hollywood in it's golden period was a very 'White' institution.

 

It's interesting to compare Sidney Poitier in 'In The Heat Of The Night' (oh my God, a black cop, the sky's gonna fall !) to today's movies where Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington can play a cop and race means nothing (the sky did'nt fall after all).

 

The only 'Black' movie I'm waiting for from Hollywood is a 'True' biography of Nat King Cole. This won't happen soon though. The more astute readers of his biography may be able to figure out why.(I can't remember the name of it right now)

 

Regards

[MattHelm]

I read through the month's line up quickly, but there should have been more of Poitier's movies, because basically every movie he did helped transcend the race barrier. They could have replaced some of the recent movies with those. I think they chose the wrong Spike Lee movie to show and should have shown Malcolm X. Despite Lee's political views, he does offer different perspectives in most of his movies and let's the audience decide what to think. Malcom X would be a better choice because not only is it his best movie, but the conclusion is that all races can find a happy medium and co-exist. (Why they gave Denzel an Oscar for Training Day and not Malcolm X only a heretic would know)

 

Hollywood today is still confused on its racial subjects. There's still an apologist air over a lot of things to the point of historical revision. The movie Glory Road portrays a white coach as the first to start a game with all black players, as an ethical decision on his part. In reality, the coach said in a recent interview, that wasn't the reason at all, they were just his best players and that's why he put them out there. He wanted to win. I think they should give credit where it's due, and portray the way things were acurately, as well as the way things are, acurately.

 

I would love to see a Nat King Cole biopic. I also wish they'd release his TV show on DVD. I can't get enough of the man. TCM has news of a documentary on their homepage that I read earlier.

[wmruffin]

I couldn't agree with you more. Malcolm X (1992) is indeed Spike Lee's best movie to date. And Denzel Washington's performance is superb.

 

I don't remember who won best male actor for that year, but it should have been Denzel hands down.

 

Bill

[JackBurley]

Al Pacino beat out Denzel Washington in the 65th annual best actor Oscar for the over-rated movie Scent of a Woman. Also nominated were:

 

Robert Downey, Jr. -- [i}Chaplin[/i] {"Charles Chaplin"}

Clint Eastwood -- Unforgiven[/i] {"Bill Munny"}

Stephen Rea -- The Crying Game[/i] {"Fergus"}

 

Mr. Washington has my vote...

[wmruffin]

If you ever get the chance, check out No Way Out (1950) (if you haven't already) starring Sidney Poitier.

 

What's amazing about this film is not only the subject matter regarding the tensions between the races, but the timing which Hollywood decided to deal with this subject. TCM showed it last year and to the best of my knowledge, hasn't been on again.

 

Sidney Poitier (as you stated) transcended the barriers between the races nearly in all the movies he played in the 50's & 60's.

 

And who can forget the tensions between Sidney Poitier & Rod Steiger on screen in In the Heat of the Night (1967)? The way they played off each other in this film is probably one of the best performances in Hollywood history.

 

Bill

[stargzn]

Nat biography...now you have me wondering who, today, could do him justice? If this is ever attempted, I would hope they'd have the sense to use his recordings. No one alive, or in the future, could ever duplicate that 'unforgettable' voice. How I wish I had seen him perform. I'm a faithful viewer of BET Jazz, so I'm grateful to be able to see his show, every Tuesday. Cable. Ain't it grand?

 

"Dad... Dad. You're my father. I'm your son. I love you. I always have and I always will. But you think of yourself as a colored man. I think of myself as a man." spoken by Sidney Poitier in the character of John Wade Prentice, in Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. Forty years later, we're still talking about race. Too, too sad. My email address is an abbreviation for Respect Everyone. And, that is ALL inclusive, no exceptions. When is the world going to get it? (mumbling to self..)

 

**re: Malcolm X -- hands down, Denzel should have won. This was one of the few movies I actually 'paid' to see at a theatre, during its run. I only saw bits and pieces, on tv, of Scent of a Woman. I am shocked Pacino won that year.

 

Speaking of Denzel -- I dragged my somewhat curmudgeon dad to see Glory, after I'd already seen it twice. I am one of ten kids, and this was a rare opportunity to have him to myself. He was very quiet as we were walking out of the theater, and I finally asked how he liked it. There was silence. Once we were in the light of day again, I could see the tears streaming down his face. He said he thought it was the best movie he's ever seen. That was one precious memory I will cherish. He died the next year.

[wmruffin]

OK! Al Pacino. Another actor I like. But Scent of a Woman (1992)? What was Hollywood thinking that year?

 

I my opinion, Al Pacino should have won an Oscar for Scarface (1983). But who wins best actor for playing a gangster?

 

Bill

[MattHelm]

I loved No Way Out. It reminds me of the clashes between South Boston and Dorchester. Widmark's character was very much like a Southie punk. Yeah, it was ahead of its time. I read that Widmark kept apologizing to Poitier because he felt bad having to say those things to him.

 

One actor that I think is severely underrated and under used is Delroy Lindo. He's one of the best actors in the business today.

[JonParker]

I my opinion, Al Pacino should have won an Oscar for Scarface (1983). But who wins best actor for playing a gangster?

 

Marlon Brando. Also, Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro have won Best Supporting Actor playing gangsters. Just sayin...

[msladysoul]

Well, well, well, a black movie month. Why is it when movies with black actors and actresses are shown it always have to be some racial theme with it instead of talking about the talents and beauty of many of the black actresses and actors like the white actors as if we don't know already what they been through. These classic blacks don't need any patronizing, just give them what their due, recognition and honor. Since they stop showing movies with Blacks in February, I guess TCM wants to give a few black movie stars of the time a little air time since they don't year around.

 

I just wish they would tell the lives and stories of many, we always hear of the stereotypes and racism, what about them, who they really were. Nina Mae McKinney, Evelyn Preer, Mildred Washington, Theresa Harris, Edna Mae Harris, Suzette Harbin all contributed to movies whether they played stereotypes or not, they contributed. It seems when classic movie fans and historians do talk about or feature Blacks they don't know what to say just the same ole' racism and discrimination jive. I feel these people been through that stuff enough in their life, as Diana Sands said, look at my talent, not my color, judge my talent.

 

I wonder what Robert Osborne will say about Nina Mae McKinney when he shows "Hallelujah," she was the first black movie star of Hollywood and Europe, appearing in more films then Horne or Dandridge. She played many unstereotypical roles. She's one of the few without a label, she was just multi-talented, lively and vivacious. She was the first black in many leading magazines. She had many achievements in show business, yet no one knows much about her and when she is mentioned its very little. I wonder if Robert will say anything flattering about her as he does the white stars. Nina could have been the first black nominated for an Academy but because of her race and being 1929 it was a big no no, but it was considered, King Vidor was nominated for best director because of Nina Mae, if it wasn't for her he wouldn't have been nominated, she brought his vision alive. She co-starred with Paul Robeson in Sanders of the River, the film won an award equal to an Academy but of course again Nina was snubbed because of her race. How stupid to give a film an award but not the actors.

 

Theresa Harris is always a delight to see. She played mostly maids in all her films but she made you look beyond that maid costume and look at her talent as an actress. I always will love her in Professional Sweetheart with Ginger Rogers, where they both had many interactions together, Theresa even being sexy around white men, Theresa even got glammed up and gave Ginger a run for her money. This of course was the pre-code era. Beautiful Mildred Washington and Claudette Colbert were wonderful together in Torch Singer. Mildred and Theresa were the only two beautiful black maids on screen while the others were homely, dark and overweight. After the pre-code era Blacks were less heard and more homely.

 

You gotta see Nina Mae in Safe In Hell, she basically steals the movie, she plays a hotel clerk/hostess, her job is entertaining, comforting the white patrons but in a sexy fashion. There's many affectionate scenes between Nina Mae and the whites, even her and Dorothy MacKaill hugging. This was a pre-code era film.

 

I hate how today historian try to make Blacks look pathetic and pitiful when it was white Hollywood's fault for their portrayals which they won't say. They won't say either how many blacks were working behind the scenes in Hollywood teaching dancing, doing lip syncing. Many whites were becoming famous for imitating and emulating the black culture yet wouldn't let a black become famous for their own creations.

 

I wish half of you knew half of the black actresses like you know the whites, you just know the token black actresses. You don't know, Nina Mae McKinney, Daisy Bufford, Theresa Harris, Mildred Washington, Edna Mae Harris, Elisabeth Welch, Francine Everett, Suzette Harbin, Tomiwitta Moore, Margaret Whitten, Sybil Lewis, Hilda Simms, gorgeous, talented ladies for sure.

 

There's so many behind the scenes secrets and stories with Blacks like Niles Wells, a black actor who did body doubles for Cesar Romero. Willie Covan, black dance director was very involved in Hollywood yet he's not credited for half of what he done. Ralph Cooper made Poor Little Rich Girl with Shirley Temple and Alice Faye a hit because of his choreographer.

 

I guess Chris Rock was right when he said you have to work 10 ten times harder to have the same type of success and recognition as whites. You have legends like Clara Bow and Louise Brooks who had a few successes, an image and tragic life that people like to talk about and their remembered. Louise Brooks is more remembered for having a bobbed hair cut and Marilyn Monroe is remembered for just being a sex symbol, having many affairs with high profile men and dying mysteriously you have blacks of Hollywood who possisbly did more and aren't even remembered as much. I feel its up to Blacks to remember their classic stars more because this world is partial and will only remember their own and won't give the same due to others as they will whites.

 

I wish TCM would show more of the independent black films, I really enjoy those films. It was the only cinema that showcase Blacks playing people and roles from all walks of life, no racial themes, just being human beings showing they were capable of it. There's blacks of all colors, sizes, and shapes, glamour, beauty, class and elegance, well-spoken and all the while their culture is still evident. Hollywood in those days were very picky in the blacks they wanted to make movie stars, not too dark, not too light but just right and non-threatening. Black Cinema had a variety of Blacks on screen unlike Hollywood.

 

 

This is a great site on unsung black actresses and performers

http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/ninamaemckinney/

[hollbergsmith]

Denzel was lucky - he only had to wait nine years after his greatest performance to win an Oscar. Pacino had to wait 18 years, after losing for Godfather Part II in 1974. And Edward G. Robinson and Cary Grant are still waiting...

 

It's like what happens in major league baseball, where guys make the all-star team a few years after they first deserve it, and then get picked long after they are past their prime.

 

And I chuckle thinking about Pacino's performance in Scarface--it certainly was in a class by itself!

[MikeDouglas]

To classicblackand...

 

AHHHHHHHHHH SHUT-UP

 

I am sick and tired of the...same old racism and discrimination jive...from ANY corner of humanity.From any corner of humanity.

 

DOES THIS PLANET LOOK LIKE IT HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON RACE? NOOO. I like Hattie McDaniel, and Louise Brooks and Paul Robeson the same as I like George Tobias, Jerome Cowan and Fay Bainter. I like to watch old films because I like to watch old films and do not want or NEED condescending instructions. Do I want to learn more about film and film history, you betcha.

 

The CRAZIEST thing about this planet and its problems with color, is that we are all the same color. Get that...WE ARE ALL THE SAME COLOR.

 

I am so looking forward to TCM's May schedule. I am aging and getting grouchier by the day...all I want to do is enjoy these films and read people's discussions about them.

[wmruffin]

I heard that! Let's just enjoy the classics for what they are.

 

Bill